BFF = Breast Feeding Failure ;(

My DD was brought to me 4 hours after my csection to start breast feeding. She refused to open her mouth and latch on. We were so determined, my nurse was amazing and we kept trying, she didnt latch but i squeezed that liquid gold onto her lips and onto her tongue. My baby girl got all of that yummy colostrum and barely lost any weight (born 8lb 8.5oz) and passed all of her tests, no jaundice etc.

A week later we have a follow up and she's lost weight ... Doc said keep breast feeding. So I got a shield because she refused to latch onto me and finally got her to nurse. A week later she was down to 7lb 2oz, I was panicking. Pediatrician gave us dozens of bottles of Enfamil newborn to supplement. A week later she was 7lb 8oz and then by 4 weeks was 8lb 6oz. Doc said keep supplementing.

I ate oatmeal, took fenugreek, attempted mothers milk and still my DD refuses to latch on ... So I pump and supplement with my milk and formula & keep nursing for as long as I can.

I get barely 3oz when I pump even with drinking an ocean everyday & peeing fenugreek.

The past few days my DD fights me at nursing even though she's got my milk in her mouth. So I make a bottle, of which she still barely opens her mouth for. She has a dainty little mouth but boy it opened wide when she had her one month shot, she's capable.

Tonight I'm crying my eyes out and with an open sore crack on the side of my nipple I fear my attempts at breast feeding should come to an end.

I think I will continue to pump for as long as I can. ;,,( I feel heart broken but I think it's what's best.

I have no idea how to exclusively pump, any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

I pump a couple of times a day and am able to get enough for a full bottle - one full bottle of breast milk a day. I eat oatmeal, stay hydrated, take Fenugreek and nurse when I can, though, LO doesn't latch well either.

It is what it is. I pump what I can, put it in a bottle and feed it to LO. I suppliment with formula. It's the best I can do and I don't beat myself up for it nor do I let others shame me. LO is getting some breastmilk which is better than none.

Do what you can do and that's the best you can do. LO is lucky to have such a determined and loving, concerned mother.

I don't pump so no help there, but just wanted to tell you what my mom always tells me about parenting. The goal at the end of the day is to have a healthy and happy baby and mommy no matter how you get there. I had to ff my oldest for the same reasons, I tried so hard. But he is a very healthy 12 year old as of yesterday. So do what works best for you and her, and try not to stress yourself out! *hugs*

there is a group on bbc for exclusively pumping mommas that i'm sure could give you a world of advice. my advice however is to keep trying to bf! even if you start EP maybe try to bf once everyday. start out with a bottle and give her enough so she's not super fussy then try and offer the breast. it may just be taking her a while to get it or, like you said, her mouth may be so small and once she gets a bit bigger she may catch on.

just don't ever give up if you don't want to! go visit a LC and/or take a breastfeeding class. best of luck!

When I get sad about not breast feeding, I give LO half of a bottle, then top her off at the breast. We are still getting that bonding experience, she's not upset and hungry, and I don't have to stress about whether or not she's eating enough. You don't have to exclusively pump, exclusively FF, or exclusively BF. it can be whatever mixture makes you both happy.